Swimming device



Nov. 23 1926. 1,607,857

I F2 ZJKJL SWIMMING DEVICE Filed May 27. 1926 I Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED "sTATEs FRANK ZUKAL, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

swIMMING rnvIcE.

Application filed May 27,

My invention relates to swimming devices or aids for swimming, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and sureacting device which will give the swimmer the benefit of a greater' area of water against which he may push than would be available from the feet alone. I accomplish this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device Vin acting position showing the same attached to the' foot of the swimmer.

Figura 2 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the devicev collapsed as it will be when the foot is being 'drawn forward through the water.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4;-4 Figure 3. v i

Like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

In the form illustrated the device has a sole plate 10 which is formed preferably of aluminum and is approximately of the size and Outline of the foot of the wearer. It is secured to the footby means of heel straps 12 and a toe .Strap 14;, although these may assume various forms and positions without departing from the 'spirit of the invention. In order that the device may be a'dapted to feet of different sizestit is desirable that the toe .strap 14 be attachable at 'different points on the sole plate, and-withl this in mind I have provided a number of T slots 16 in the side fiange 18l of the sole plate. A. headed button 20 is provided at the en'ds of the toe strap and by putting said Vbuttons in different .slots the strap 'may be adjusted forward or backward along the sole plate.

As above suggested the sole plate is provided With a marginal ldepending Vfiange 18 which serves several purposes. It affords means ofV attachment for the straps 'and other parts of the mechanism. It forms a housing for the Operating parts of the mechanism, and it also forms a support for holding the Vsoleplate in elevatedposition and protecting the Operating 'parts when the user is walking on land.

A shaft 22 is mounted in the side flanges approximately midway between the ends of the sole plate. It extends crosswise of the sole plate and hence lies horizontal when the 1926. serial No. 111,909.

user is standing upright. Shaft 22 forms a plvot for a swivel plate 2a to which the ribs 26 are pivotally connected. They are connected near the center of the swivel plate by means of pins 28 as shown in Figure 2 and elsewhere. Extending between the ribs 26 ls-webbing 30 which consists of rubberized fabrlcV or any other flexible sheet material more or less impervious to water.

A short distance in 'front of the shaft 22 is a cam plate 32 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the sole plate and side flanges. By preference the plate is approximately tangent to a circle centered atV the shaft .22 and having a radius equal to the .distance between the plate and theV sha-ft.

The plate has three slots 34:, one for each of the ribs. TVV hen viewed as in Figurel 4 the side slots eXtend obliquely downward and lnward while the center slot is Vertical. The sides of theouter` slots form lcams for produeing lateral movement of the ribs whenv the latter travel up and down in the slots in the manner presently to be'explained. The center slot forms a guide for the centralrib. i v

In operation, when a device is attachcd to the foot. of the Vwearer, and the wearer is Von landA as indicated -in Figure 1, the flange 18 holds the sole plate and swivel plate up outof contact with the ground and thus protects the Operating parts. Then the user is in the water, swimming, the resistance of the water on the forward motion of the foot will cause the ribs to draw together or collapse to the position indicated in Figures 3 and 4. This is due to the action of the cam plate 32, andconsequently it may be said that the action is positive when the user afterwards kicks backward, as in the usual swimming stroke the resistance of the water causes the ribs and the connecting webbingl 30 to eXpand as indicated inFigure 2. This, of course, adds a large, effective area which presses against the water, and the result is that the swimmer may make rapid progress through the Water. This expanding action is also positive due to the that the parts retain their original condition Without deteriora-tion due to alternate wetting and drying.

lt will be evident that the construction is simple as well as positive acting, and furthermore there is nothing that can readily get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, What i claim as new and des-ire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1,111 a. swimn'iing device a sole plate, means for attaching it 'to the foot of the wearer` ribs pivotally connected to the sole plate, flexible wehbing connecting the ribs, and means for auton'iatically collapsing and expanding;` the rihs when the device is moved forward and backward in 'the water.

lin a si'finnning device a sole plate, n'ieans for attaching it to the foot of the wearer, rihs pi 'otally connected to the sole plate, fiexible webbing connecting the rihs, and a cam plate attached to the sole plate and having` ohlique slots for causing the ribs to eXpand and collapse when inoved in the slots by the resistance ef the water.

n a swiinming device, a sole plate having means for attaching` it to the foot of the wearer, the sole plate having` a depending marginal flange, a shaft lnounted crosswise of the sole plate in the sid'es of the fiange, ribs pivotally connected to the shaft, liexible webbing connectirfi` the rib, and a cam Dlate havino' slots throuh which the ribs extend, some of the slots being` oblique to thereby cause the ribs to collapse and expand when moved in the slots by the resistance of the water.

4.111 a swimming` device, a sole plate adapted to be secured to the footof the wearer, a shaft rigidly connected to the sole plate transversely thereof' and spaced at a slight distance below it, a swivel plate pivotally lnounted on the shaft, rilos pivoi'all)7 connected at their rear ends to the swivel plate, and at their forward ends provided with webbing, and a cam plate in advance of the swivel plate having oblique slots through which the ribs eXtend for controlling the action of the rib.

5. n a swimming device a sole plate,

means for attaching it to the foot of the user, a marginal flange extending downward from the sole plate, a shaft extending transversely of the sole plate and supported in the sides of the flang'e, a swiv'el plate extending` forward from the shaft and having` a sleeve for encircling the ehaft, pivot pins mounted in said sole plate, ribs connected to said pivot pins and extending forward therefrom, webhing connecting the ribs at the forward portion7 and means carried by the sole plate in front of the swivel plate for causing the ribs to expand and collapse When the sole plate is moved hackward and forward in the water.

6. n a swimming device a Sole plate, means for attaching it to the footrof the user, a marginal flange extending down- Ward from the sole plate, a shaft extending transversely of the sole plate and supported in the sides' of the flange, ribs pivotally connected at their rear end to said shaft, and a cam plate secured to the sole plate in front of the shaft and having slots through which the 'ribs extend, the outer slots extending obliquely downward and inward, the marginal fiange descending` below the shaft and as far as the bottoni of the cam plate for protecting` them when the user is on land.

In witn'ess whereof, I have hereunto subscrihed myV name;

FRANK ZUKAL, 

